Lois Larson
Tortola is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. It is served by the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ), previously known as Beef Island Airport. The airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, to which it is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. The airport underwent a major $55 million renovation in 2004, which expanded the runway to allow larger planes to operate. The airport serves as a gateway to the British Virgin Islands and for inter-Caribbean travellers headed to the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Airport | Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport |
| Former Name | Beef Island Airport |
| Airport Code | EIS |
| Runway Length | 4,645 feet (1,416 m) |
| Location | Beef Island |
| Nearest Place | Tortola |
| Connecting Airports | San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Maarten |
| Airlines | American Airlines, Air BVI, British Caribbean Airways, Cape Air, Tradewind Aviation, Caribbean Buzz Helicopters, Seaborne Airlines |
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What You'll Learn
- Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ)
- Previously known as Beef Island Airport
- No direct flights from Canada, Europe, or South America
- Renovation in 2004 to expand the runway
- Airlines: American Airlines, Air BVI, British Caribbean Airways, Cape Air, Seaborne Airlines, Caribbean Buzz Helicopters
Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ)
The airport underwent a major $55 million renovation in 2004. After dredging was completed, the runway was expanded to allow larger planes to operate into the airfield. Historically, in 1986, the airport had scheduled passenger jet service operated by British Caribbean Airways, with direct flights to Miami. In 2019, a Titan Airways-operated Airbus A318-100 jet landed at the airport, which is the largest aircraft ever operated into the airport.
American Airlines began non-stop jet service between Tortola and Miami in June 2023 with flights operated by American Eagle Embraer 175 regional jets. The service began with a single daily seasonal flight but has grown to several daily frequencies that operate year-round. Air BVI was an airline based at the airport that operated scheduled passenger service from the early 1970s to the mid-1990s with Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander and Douglas DC-3 prop aircraft, as well as Hawker Siddeley HS 748 turboprops.
There are no direct flights from Canada, Europe, or South America to the British Virgin Islands' main airport. However, several excellent connecting airports surround the islands. All flights to the British Virgin Islands connect through another Caribbean island airport such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, or St. Maarten. Tradewind Aviation offers scheduled flights between San Juan and Virgin Gorda, as well as on-demand private charters available year-round to Virgin Gorda and Tortola.
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Previously known as Beef Island Airport
Tortola is served by the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ), which was previously known as Beef Island Airport. The airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, to which it is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. It is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean.
The airport serves as a gateway to most of the islands within the British Virgin Islands, as well as for inter-Caribbean travellers headed to the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands. Many travellers fly into Beef Island, intending to take a ferry to the other smaller British Virgin Islands. The airport underwent a major $55 million renovation in 2004, which included dredging and runway expansion to allow larger planes to operate.
Beef Island Airport offers flights to and from popular destinations such as Miami, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, and St. Maarten. American Airlines operates nonstop jet service between Tortola and Miami, with several daily frequencies operating year-round. The airport has also historically had scheduled passenger jet service, with British Caribbean Airways offering direct flights to Miami in 1986.
In terms of ground handling, Signature EIS offers private and general aviation services, including jet aircraft fuelling, at the airport. Travellers are advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled flight departure.
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No direct flights from Canada, Europe, or South America
Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), previously known as Beef Island Airport, is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands, which includes Tortola. The airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, and acts as a gateway to the other British Virgin Islands and the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands.
While there are no direct flights from Canada, Europe, or South America to Tortola, connecting flights are available. Travellers from these regions can fly into major cities in the United States, such as Miami, and take a connecting flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico. From San Juan, it is just a quick 40-minute flight to Tortola with airlines such as Cape Air and American Airlines.
American Airlines, for example, offers nonstop jet service between Tortola and Miami, with several daily flights operated by American Eagle Embraer 175 regional jets. Cape Air also provides plenty of flights from the United States into San Juan, from where passengers can take a 40-minute flight to Tortola.
It is worth noting that in 2017, the Government of Tortola confirmed that a proposed runway expansion at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport would not be going forward. The expansion was intended to allow larger jetliners, such as the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320, to fly directly to and from the continental United States and Latin America. However, as of 2019, the largest aircraft to have operated into the airport was a Titan Airways-operated Airbus A318-100 jet.
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Renovation in 2004 to expand the runway
Tortola is served by the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ), previously known as Beef Island Airport. The airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, and is connected to it by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
In 2004, the airport underwent a major $55 million renovation that included dredging and expanding the runway to accommodate larger planes. This was the largest capital project ever undertaken in the territory at that time. The expansion increased the runway's capacity by 1,000ft, allowing slightly larger aircraft to operate in the territory with provisions for refuelling and increased services. The modernisation of the facility significantly improved air access to and from the British Virgin Islands.
The expansion of the runway was part of a four-phase expansion and construction project that cost a total of $70.5 million. The project officially began in February 2000, and the final contract was awarded in May 2001. The project was completed in 2004, and the airport was renamed Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport in February of that year.
Before the expansion, the airport could only accommodate smaller jet planes such as turboprops, which hold 70 to 80 people. The expanded runway can now handle larger aircraft, such as the Airbus A318-100 jet, which landed at the airport in 2019 and is the largest aircraft ever to operate there.
There were also plans to further expand the runway in 2016, with the government announcing an increase in runway size by 2,504 feet (763 m). However, in 2017, the government confirmed that the proposed expansion would not be going forward.
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$15.12
Airlines: American Airlines, Air BVI, British Caribbean Airways, Cape Air, Seaborne Airlines, Caribbean Buzz Helicopters
Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, previously known as Beef Island Airport, is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands, of which Tortola is the largest and most populated island. The airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, to which it is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
Several airlines operate in and out of Tortola, including American Airlines, which began nonstop jet service between Tortola and Miami in June 2023 with flights operated by American Eagle Embraer 175 regional jets. The service has grown to several daily frequencies that operate year-round. Air BVI was another airline based at the airport, which operated scheduled passenger services from the early 1970s to the mid-1990s with various aircraft.
British Caribbean Airways also has a history of operating at the airport, with direct flights to Miami in 1986 using a British Aerospace BAe 146-100 jet. Cape Air is another option, offering flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Virgin Gorda, as well as flights from other destinations such as Boston and New York. Seaborne Airlines provides flights to Tortola and Virgin Gorda for those arriving via St. Thomas.
Caribbean Buzz Helicopters, based in the US and British Virgin Islands, offers airport transfers to and from Beef Island (EIS) and St. Thomas (STT), as well as tours and charters.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is an airport in Tortola. The airport is called Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ), previously known as Beef Island Airport.
The airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, to which it is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
Airlines that fly to the airport in Tortola include American Airlines, British Caribbean Airways, Air BVI, Cape Air, Seaborne Airlines, Caribbean Buzz Helicopters, and Tradewind Aviation.
Yes, there are several excellent connecting airports near Tortola. All flights to Tortola connect through another Caribbean island airport such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, or St. Maarten.
